Jēkabpils Hotels: Nature Parks and Railway History

Jēkabpils combines protected lake, river and wetland landscapes in the surrounding region with castles, open-air museums and the history of narrow-gauge railways. Nature observation, regional history and specific visitor attractions are located in different places throughout the municipality, creating a diverse picture of Sēlija.

Nature

The Jēkabpils Mežaparks and Radži Reservoir recreational area covers 304.14 hectares. The protected geological formation “Radžu akmens” is also located within its territory. The Sauka Nature Park has a different landscape character: it protects the landscape around Lake Sauka and the Sēlija uplands of the Augšzeme highland. Sauka is a Natura 2000 nature park in the Elkšņi, Rites and Sauka municipalities in Jēkabpils Municipality. It features rapids, mineral-rich springs, spring fens, slope and ravine forests, natural eutrophic lakes, species-rich hay meadows and wet deciduous forests. Licensed fishing is organised on Lake Sauka.

The Laukezers Nature Park is also designated as a Natura 2000 nature park in Kūki Municipality, Jēkabpils Municipality. It protects at least nine biotopes of Latvian and European importance, as well as at least twelve protected plant species. Valuable pine forest communities grow on the southern slope of the uplands north of Lake Laukezers. The nature reserve of Lakes Klaucāni and Priekulāni is of particular botanical importance. It protects the floating water chestnut, a rare and endangered species in Latvia that occurs in only four lakes, including these two lakes. In addition, 37 specially protected species have been recorded in this nature reserve. Lakes Klaucāni and Priekulāni correspond to a habitat of importance to the European Union: eutrophic lakes with submerged and floating aquatic vegetation.

In the Dviete River floodplain in Jēkabpils Municipality, several thousand geese and ducks stop over each season in spring. The floodplain is one of Latvia’s most diverse and species-rich bird areas. Regularly flooded floodplain meadows at the mouths of the Dviete and Ilūkste rivers into the Daugava are protected. The Slapjo salu purvs nature reserve in Sala and Viesīte municipalities in Jēkabpils Municipality comprises two eastern-type raised bogs.

Culture and History

Krustpils Castle is considered one of the oldest castles in Latvia. Riga Archbishop Nikolajs de Magdeburg had it built in 1237 as a fortification on the road from Riga to Daugavpils. The panorama of Jēkabpils can be viewed from the observation point in the gate tower. The Jēkabpils History Museum has been located in Krustpils Castle since 1996.

The open-air section “Sēļu sēta” displays six 19th-century rural buildings from Upper Latgale, as well as work tools and household items from the Sēlija region. The exhibition “Ar sēliju sirdī” presents the settlements, rivers and lakes of Sēlija, as well as historical figures and craftspeople. Visitors to “Sēļu sēta” can try activities such as milling, spinning and blacksmithing.

The “Sēlija” Museum in Viesīte consists of the Mazā Bānīša parks and Paula Stradiņa skola sections. It displays the ML-635 steam locomotive manufactured by Schwarzkopff in 1918, as well as service carriage No. 3637, manufactured in 1916. The narrow-gauge railway junction in Viesīte is recognised as an industrial monument of national importance. It is the only place in Latvia where the history of a 600-millimetre railway can be viewed at its original operating site.

Visitor Information

The tourist information centre in Viesīte provides free advice and information materials about tourism opportunities in Viesīte and Jēkabpils Municipality. It also offers maps, tourism brochures, souvenirs and guided tours for exploring the town of Viesīte. Small groups can explore the historic centre of Viesīte on a ride on the electric railway; advance registration is required. Tadenava offers guided tours in Latvian, English and Russian.

Further Destinations

More location pages: Jēkabpils, Vidsala, Dunava, Ludzas Novads, Inčukalna Novads, Rēzeknes Novads, Salaspils novads, Apes Novads.

To the higher-level travel overview: Latvia.